Carpenter&#39;s readily cleanable hand plane



April 24, 1951 E. PRATT CARPENTERS READILY CLEANABLE HAND PLANE v 2Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 2, 194'( INVENTOR.

BY M l 5 f MM w ce 4 x W MM,

April 24, 1951 L, E, PRATT 2,550,377

FiledJune 2, 1947 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 24 1951 AIl.) NITED y#STAT EIS O FFICE j `CARPENTanis READILy *C'LEANABLE s y HAND PLANEVLawrence E. Pratt, eaforaaohimfninber derart,

A executrix ofLawrencehE; :Bram deceased,- assignorto Amber C. Pratt,`B'elford,Ohio

:Applicationiune 2, 19421,.-:seriailNo-i `v51-,1668A zThis `invention:frelates `to carpenters readily Acleanable hand planes-'for` planingwood.

AOrdinary hand planes While; in use tendtofplug kor loadnp with-shavings Vand do not do the work yfor which they are designed. Thispluggingiforloadinggup'occurs inthe space-between the blade and the:adjacent'iorward edge of the' opening, slit or throat in the basefforthe blade. In many .instances-thav cutting-blade assembly must beremoved inforder to clean out the plugged@` shavings. f The `planeinustthen be reassembled and generally thel blade readjusted so as to makethe proper cut. This mayoccur time and time again throughoutthe dayswork,thus taking up and wasting'considerable of the-carpenters 4or;`

-=operators time. K

It is `an `object of i this invention to produce a hand plane havingprovisiony for readily cleaning i, the sa-me oftheshavings caughtthereinand any Adust or particles remain-ingina moments time and-.Withoutdisturbance of theblades adjustment or possibility of damage thereto.

A further Objectis the provisionof a -plane of conventional form :andappearance which has been so-satisfactory to the artisans for so manyyears, and of substantially-the .same triedv and proven construction or`the planing operations,

Y but having lmeansvfor readily 'vcleaningthevsame `of thercaughtshavings without .annoyance `to the user and practicallywithoutinterruption of the work and without detracting .from .the form,appearance, strength or structural-qualities of thev conventional plane.

A yfurther Vobject .isatheprovision `of `a plane in which the portion`of thebase` in .front loflthe blade may be .substantially instantly`removed .c and reinserted for cleaning .out thev shavings withoutfdisturbance offv the .blade assembly or `possibility .of Vdamagethereto.

A still furtherobject is theprovision of` such a plane inwhich the front.operating knob of the two-.hand vplane is Lcarried .bythe Vremovableplate Land serves'as a handle therefor in such removal and insertion,whereby' .the cleaning Vout of plugged shavings may be accomplishedwithease, celerity andsaety, and Without the necessity of removal of thehands from the operating knobs or substantialV interference withthe'planing` op-r eration. l Y

'Still further objects .and `advantages will =ap pear from thedescriptionand claims to follow, in connectionfwith theaccompanyingdrawing which li1lustrates,"by way of example and not of'limitation;embodiments of the' invention;` and in which. -f

v1.4 claims. (rc1. V14s- 5) Fig.' ,1.1 a: slide elevation "of a fconventional aitwoghandyplane with the-'fore partfbrokenoaway l to.;show .this invention in longtudinal fcentral section;

- Fig. 2` is aibottom plane view. of thefnsame. and

showing 'the opening in z .the base in` aadvance` of `thea/:bladefandtheremovable section orfl plate thereof; Y

Fig... 3-'is a side vievvof` the fron-tendini the'plane ,with the nearside @member .broken` away "and the plane in section-iand theremovablebasefsec- #tion or plate tipped up substantially asrit-iwouldbe-in yinserting it' into the plane body .oi-in re- :movingit-therefrom:

4 Fig. 4 is a cross section of the planeA onthe -plane,showingl: the:cross brace, thea-side members -lof the planeandfthe Vremovableplate-.in rrelation thereto when theaplateisv in the-plane readyzvforFigi '8i is a `detailed perspectiveiview of thellockingl cam and itsupper Iside constrluctionby which it' is securedein thefremovable plateandto vthe kno-b or `'handle' thereof;

Fig. 9 is a vsideview ofthe same; l'Figs. 10 and -llare` respectivelyvperspective .viewsof theplanebody and the removable plate,

the L two being `separated as-"they lwould*v be' `for cleaning out thecloggingshavingsj'the'plane libody Abeing `held-in one Lhand by itshandleV "and ithe: `removable plate in the f 'otherd hand by its Aknobkorhandlewhich. is the otherfh-andle bf the plane, whereby theobstructions :mayberrernoved i and the cleaning accomplished almostlinstantaneously, withpractically no interruptioninathe work of`planing' andfwithmentiresafety tovthe cutting-edge of the' blade` andwith noreadjustment of the latter for cutting inthe `use of the lane;and

Fig. 12 isa view similar-to Fig. 1 butshowi-ng :the removable vcleaningplatev applied to a `small vone-hand'p-lane, that is, one that Adoesnot-have 3 Y a front knob or handle for the use of the plane in planing.

Referring to these drawings, the plane shown is preferably ofconventional type having a metal elongated narrow body 20 which may becast and comprises the flat bottom or bottom member 2| and sides or sidemembers 22 extending along the long opposite edges of the bottom. Awooden or equivalent handle 23 is secured to the top of the base orbottom 2| at the rear end and midway of the sides 22, and is grasped bythe hand to manipulate the plane. The usual blade assembly is providedbetween the sides, including the blade 24, the guard plate 25 and clamp26, the sheet metal triangular form 21 secured to a slightly raised partof the upper side of the base, on the sloping front side of which theblade rests and is carried, and the nut and lever adjustment 28 of theblade as well as its lateral adjusting lever 29 carried by said form 21and by which the posi- 'tion of the blade and its cutting edge in themouth or throat of the plane may be accurately adjusted. All of this maybe, and as shown is, of

the usual construction in conventional planes.

' Such planes also have the cross brace 30 extending between the sidesof the plane in advance of the blade, which strengthens the sides andbody structure of the plane.

.In all planes the adjustment of the blade to vproduce the desired cutis important and so far 1 as possible, once set, should not'be tamperedwith. `The protection of the cutting edge of the blade .is mostessential, since any injury thereto spoils -v`the work and makes itnecessary to remove and resharpen or replace the blade and adjust it allover again. i

But such planes while in use .will plug or load up with shavings andprevent them from doing the work for which they were designed. Thisplugging or loading up occurs in the space between the blade and theedge of the base in front of the same in the opening through which theblade projects. This opening in the base is varii ously called the mouthor throat and the front edge thereof is usually slightly slantedupwardly and forwardly to provide room for the movement of the shavingsas formed in the use of the plane.

In many instances the cutting blade assembly must be removed in order toclean out these plugged-in shavings. The plane then must be reassembledand generally the blade must bereadjusted so that it will again cutproperly; and this may occur ,time and time again throughout the dayswork, thus taking up and wasting considerable of the carpenters time,aside from the annoyance to him or the operator.'`

In order ysimply and instantly to clean out r remove these pluggedshavings from the plane f without disturbing the cutter blade assemblyin thisinvention, a section of the working base of the plane in advanceof the blade is made readily removable and replaceable, whereby theshavings may be freed and shaken or blown out and most Thus, asindicated in the drawings, a

of the plane and forwardly from the blade underneath the cross brace 30to a point in advance of said vbrace and forming the edge 3| across theoriginal or normal base of the plane which ex- -tends to the front endof the plane. The front end 0f the plane body is thus left substantiallyintact and not appreciably weakened by the base opening.

The removable section 32 of the base, which is relatively thick andheavy, accurately fits the said opening from said edge 3| rearwardly andsubstantially to the blade, the rearward edge of which section forms thefront edge of the throat opening for the blade and is bevelled upwardaccordingly, as at 33. This section thus forms a rigid part of theworking flat base or bottom of the plane when itis in position therein,and its lower surface is ground in assembly with the entire base of theplane body, so that it may be used with the greatest elciency therein.

This removable section 32 of the base, as shown, forms an offset end ofa plate, the other end 35 of which is adapted to overlap or overle theforward end of the base plate of the plane when the base section is inplace therein, the shoulder connecting the two lower surfaces formingedge 36 which abuts base edge 3|, as in Figs. 1 and 2, at such time. Theforward edge of the plate 35 may extend to the forward edge of the baseplate of the plane and be curved to conform thereto and bevelled orcurved rearwardly at the edge to produce a rounded edge on the front ofthe plane when the plate is in place therein.

This offset plate is provided with a knob or handle 3l on its forwardpart and is adapted to be inserted in and withdrawn from the planethrough the space between said base edge 3| and the cross brace 36 whentipped up transversely to the plane, as indicated in Fig. 3. The two maybe entirely separated and are intended so to be in normal cleaning, asshown in Figs. l0 and ll combined. The handle 37 serves as a means notonly to manipulate this removable plate but as la front handle for theplane itself. It is preferably of similar size, shape and appearance asthe conventional front handle of such planes and is used naturally inthe same way by the carpenter in planing.

When the removable plate is in nal position I' lin the plane, the upperside of the rear end enrgages the lower edge of the cross brace 30 andis pressed up against the same as a stop, as later explained, andV suchengagement preferably includes the slightly raised lug 38 on the upperside of the plate end 32'. This is a manufacturing convenience, since itrenders unnecessary the acvcurate tting across the full width of the topof viding a slight space between the lower side of the end 35 oftheplate and the upper face of the base plate 2| forward of said edge 3|.This may be Conveniently done by inclining the plane of said lower faceof the end 35 slightly upward so as 't0 provide a slight clearance, asat 40, Fig. l, from the top of the base. The lower faces of the Vends 32and 35 are therefore not in exact `parallelism. Accordingly, when theplate is in V,final position and the end 35 is pressed toward the baseor clamped in that position, it acts like a lever fulcrumed at the edge3| and stopped by the cross brace on the top of end 32, and the end32,-the base sectionis exactly and rmly held in place. The plate is thussubjected to a bending moment or stress, and thus the base section isat' all times firmly and exa-ctly placed and held in position, actingpractically as an integral use Y S """pi'tion-'ffthefbasefsd far`asf*-"c"onc':erns' the* and workingpffthe'plane:in planing.

rBesidesglsuch; a tclearance fand poised L-rnethod of holding the`platefbetween bearingsrenders nnecessary Vthe machining bf the uppervface of the "base (Whifchiinay- Ibe V`of cast metal) `v`at the'frontend ofthe plane toprovidea-suitable seat for the end 35 of theplate, or tofmake-itatfthe exactangleto' be inparallelism withAthefbottom planebf fthe" base in' order to make the removable:sectionlfittfiush therewith.

' lWith such/ a"'1: oisecl plat means is 'provided 4^ct'mstaritly- 'toexert pressure ""orl pulliupon ltl'ietend'fSEi to force'iittdwardthe.I""'base' 2| beneath `it. This-may 'take -`the forml of springpress'edballs 4I seated in 'the-fopposite `"si'de` edgesof theend -35of saidplate. V"These Aballs areseated in holes in said edges ori-relativelyVstrong coil springstl'ierein,I the metalbf the edges jbeing' upsettoward the balls `outsidethe medial Vplanes"thereof so U'as topreventth-e balls 'from being sprungout' the holes when the `plate vorits end 35 is outsidethe side members 22 of the "iplane body. At :thesame timethe'balls project 4`"appreciably Vbeyond'the saidledges'when'not 'comi 'pres'sed. "Co-operatin `p ssionsorreceses42'in'the inside faceslof the '"sides "'22M of 'the'bodywhich areso located with f 'referenceftoV the 'balls whenthe end plate'35 Vis innalposition' that 4-thefb'alls constantly tend to """forceirpullthe'f'end 35' ofthe plate toward ythe 'base' plate "2 I; whereby thesaid removable plate "is placedun'der abending stress and isV exactly"held"imposition'overtheedge 3|' as a fu'lorum and 'under`the"ero'ss'brace as 'aston This" method of holding I'therernovablesection A.of the base in working position suffices for small blockornefh'andf'planes vsuch as'that'of "Fig, 12, Where thereis no" front`knob to begrasped by the hand ofi the operator during planing' or invv-hijch` the' front knob maybe' supported other- "Wise-'thanon"'the"`f"r'ont `end of therernovable "platefb'ut' Where, ashere; "thefront knob is lo- `atedon the'front "end 'ofthe said platefit ispreferredth'at'a vspecial'or 'positive lock orretainingfinean'sbe'pr'ovided for"s aid' 'plate' when in" its vrhonie position! Thus,'inl its present preferredform, a otary'm'ir dSc-likformis lo'c'atedin aShallow recess-in the under side of said end35 'of the .-p1ate"a`1d`i"s`S'eollid Vtothe handlhS'l brthe handleis' seci'iredfto'it,` as will beexplained; so that "the cam may be rotated thrugh its clamping andlocking arc by the handle. This cam is arranged to'engagef'or disengage,Yin such rotation, a clamping Yand locking lug Tor boss on the base,whereby the handle not onlyserves for the manipulation `of the removableplate andthe operation of the plane but'also as a lock operating'meansfoi' the plate.

` Ilhedvic'e itself is comparativelysimple. The cam member/and its,handle-engaging means is `1 .shoivmyin perspective finmFg. 8,infsideView in ``Eig.` 9, inac'rosssection of the assembly in Fig. l,

g with saidjbaus are su-itabiedeand in" therelation -of the locking`carri-to `the 6 "Ickng1ugi'tigs- 5 and l6.

` As seen infFigs'. Sand 9`,`the locking'ni'e'mber 4hasV an enlargeddisc-likeflower 'end 43 with a sloping cam edge "44 'extendingsubstantially' half way 'around the 'same and a bearing `po1'1tion'454and sleeve Ior 'shaft portion' 46, an"int'ernally "threaded"hole""xtending axiallythro'ugh the 'memberi 'and the'stem or"shaftportion, as indicated; being externanyffluted er 'straight knunea.

e, -suitabletension v base. The' cam 44fon the disc `43 is'wifde'enoughlAto reach into thejund'ercut l53 ofthe'boss" 152 and '4` under the?overhangingthead of theboss.

The Yresult A`is vthatyvhen the lock'is turned by ithehandlegsayftoithe"leftyuntil it 'strikeslthe pin 41' '(Fig. '5); theend'3 5 of 'the removable plate "maybe raised 'or' lowered 'freeof theboss'5 2; and "'Whe`n`the said'end "ofthe plate is' down on'the "ba'se,bythe" turning of "the handleto the right "the'thin edge of'the 'sloping'cam 44J is caused to '"enter" beneath "the"'overhanging 4head of boss'52 "and asthe'turning' cntinues the head rides up 45 on thecamjtheextreme positi'onbeing indicated "inFigL '6; andthe "said 'end ofthe removable plate p is .'r'mly A"clamped and ldck'ed to the planejthebase "section 'of the plate being ir'mly'heldin position bythbendinginoment orstress'therecnfolf'the* damping action.' Thiswakingand unlocking of the plate 'lis' by a simple"fractional turnof'the" handle '6r 'knObV 3'l"a"ndmay be readily"aic'd'rrnfli'shed byaslight 'twist `of the Wrist vvhile holding the knob in the hand "forthe55. purpose'of removing or insertingthe pliate'in the plane. Itlisthuspractically automatic andvery effective. y

As heretfore'stated," the cutting edge "of the blade is protectedVe'igain'st contact Vwith theremovable plate in the-manipulation of thelatter" in being taken out .of'and insertedin 'the' plane body' in'orderto clean out the plugged 'shavings andfdebris. This is preferabl'y`provided 'fo-r by the "curved 'cam'surface AEll on the uppenside ofthefplatebackffof the handle or knob"31 and in -front of the crossbrace"3ll when the plateis in position. N"This curved' surface isadapted toV l"strike agair'istv the. "cross brace and pushes' the Tsaidplate "forwardly 'agaii 1s1 ;V the` edge 3|'as`the plate'ls rotated`forwardly after being inserted' in theiplane.This/keeps the plate outof Contact AWith or'str'iking againstjtheblade edge;Similailymvvheri"rtatingthe" platetoward the" open position toft'a'kei't outfthasame "cam" surface 7 keeps it back and away from the cuttingedge of the blade.

The spring balls, though not necessary in this two-handed plane for`holding the removable plate under stress in its final position duringplaning, do have a beneficial effect in tending to urge the plate to itsfinal position in which the lock can be operated by the handle, incentralizing the plate between the side rails 22 of the plane when theplate after being dropped into the plane is rotated about the edge 3| bypressing forwardly on the handle 31, and also in riding forwardly for ashort distance along the top edges of the side rails in the first partof the rotative movement of the plate resulting from the forwardpressure on the handle' to seat the plate, this riding along insuringthe lifting and pulling of the shouldered edge 36 of the plate up andforwardly against the fulcrum edge 3| of the base and keeping it therein the initial forward rotative movement of the plate and handle towardseating position. Fig. 3 illustrates what is meant, the balls 4| restingon the tops of side rails 22 when the plate is rst inserted in theplane. They may act as stops to prevent the plate from passing too farthrough the opening when inserted therein transversely of the plane, andthen, if it hangs loosely therein, ride along the tops of the rails atthe rst forward pressure on the handle and thus keep the shoulder 36 upagainst the edge 3|. This makes for ease and certainty of operationwithout care or attention on the part of the operator.

The lower corner edges along the raised end 35 of the plate arepreferably slightly curved, as at 6| (Figs. 5, 6 and 11), for ease vofentrance of said end between the sides 22 of the body when being turneddown to final Position and to avoid obstruction by the corner fillets inthe casting, as at 62 (Fig. 10). The corners at the juncture of thecross brace 36 with the side rails 22 of the plane are usually roundedor have fillets, and the corners of the cam 66 on the upper side of theremovable plate are likewise rounded, as indicated in'dotted lines at 63in Fig. 2.

The Voperation of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing.With the removable section in place, the plane is used in the usualmanner of the conventional two-hand plane, the main handle 23 beinggrasped in one hand, usually the right hand, and the other handle orknob 31 being held in the other hand. Although this knob 31 is locatedon the removable section or plate, it serves in the normal way as thefront handle of the plane in working. So far as this is concerned, theknob or handle 31 is substantially the same and located in substantiallythe same place at the front end of the plane as in the conventionalplane with which the carpenter is familiar.

When the plane plugs up with shavings, `all the carpenter has to do isto give the front handle a little twist and lift the removable platefree from the plane. This he may do without letting go of the handles ofthe plane; the partial twist of the handle 31 unlocking the cam 44 intheremovable plate from the lug 52 on the base, and the assembly is `nottouched or removed or its adjust- 8 ment interferred with and does nothave to be replaced, reassembled or readjusted.

The removal of the plate from the plane, as stated, permits the shavingsto fall free and any dust or particles may be easily removed from theplane or plate by a quick shake of either or both while still holdingthem in the hands, or by blowing upon them.

The plate is then inserted in the space in advance of the cross brace bytipping it up relatively to the plane and inserting it transverselytherethrough, which may readily be done without releasing either part ofthe plane from the hands, and then pushing forwardly on the handle 31and giving it a slight twist when the end 35 is seated. The operatorneed exercise no especial care in doing this. The spring balls 4|, thecam 60 and the cross brace 30 all prevent things going wrong, and theremovable base section 32 is snugly landed in its proper position as apart of the working base of the plane and is firmly held therein in astate of stress between the cross brace and the fulcrum edge 3| of thebase.

This is all done in a few seconds of time and the Iwork of planning isscarcely interrupted, and is all accomplished without any interferencewith or readjustment of the plane blade assembly or injury to thecutting edge of the blade. Moreover, the plane body is not weakenedpractically by the short removable section of the base, since the forepart of the base, the sides and cross brace remain intact, the same as.in the usual plane. The front handle is sturdily applied, the removableplate as a whole is of relatively heavy construction, and is rmly heldin place so that the removable section of the base forms a part vof theplane base for all normal working and purposes. Y

For small one-hand planes such as that indicated in Fig. 12, where thereis no front working handle of the planer, the same construction ofremovable plate may be employed as in the twohand plane described, withthe exception that the spring balls alone may be relied on to hold theplate in position under tension over the edge of the base plate as afulcrum and under the cross brace as a stop, and a small knob or ngerpiece is attached to the plate to assist in its removal and replacement.No other lock need be provided.

Thus, as indicated in said Fig. 12,v the spring balls 1B, correspondingto and the same as balls 4| in the rst form, are provided and they oper-4ate in the same way as described for balls 4|. The cam disc lock andhandle on the plate are omitted and a small knob, as linger piece 1|,may be attached to the upper side of the forward end of said removableplate. The cross brace 12 is indicated in dotted lines and correspondsto the cross brace 30 of the first form. The construction, arrangementand operation are the same as in the first form except for absence oflock and handle. In use, when the plane becomes clogged with shavings,it may be readily cleaned by pulling the plate by the knob or fingerpiece 1| into its tipped-up position, the oifset shoulder and base plateedge acting as a fulcrum lfor such rocking of the plate. The plate isthen withdrawn from the plane by the fingers grasping the knob, theshavings shaken or blown out, and the plate returned to the plane by rstinserting it transversely in advance of the cross brace and thenpressing its upper end forwardly to rock it over the fulcrum edge andshoulder into position. The spring'balls and their recesses in the sidememunder Y stressl overl` he" iulcrum-e and under the bersfofthe-planegga'siy eXplainedinl-connection withV 1 the rstliormrs holdtheplate in inal position;

the-l 1plane,=apositive-locklike= or corresponding to thatofthe ii-rst.form is -`not needed, although one could be suppliedg'ii' desi-red,-an-dsuitably:

operated-by the finger-piece -Tl Y Further description of this type ofpla-ne of diierence Yfrom Vthat described"-v in detail above; save forsize, is in the omissionof the'positive lcamlock` and! the handle; whichforms-` the frontl operating handley of the plane;`

- 1ig.-12Y is deemedunnecessary',` sinceyas stated, the c Having thusdescribed theinvention, what.v is claimed and desiredto Abe Ysecured byLetters'V Patent is: Y

1v; A lhand 'plane comprising' an elongated trough-"likeA` Vmetal bodyhaving a 'f planing" base with an openingrtherein and side members alongthe base, acutting blade` assembly, andI operating handle mounted onthe' bodyvvith they blade pro*- jecting through ther-saidl opening,`a--relatively heavyv removableV pla-te having; transversely offset rendportions lyingV in 4diiiferent planes; one' end portion of which'plateisadapted to' ftand ll irl-*saidopeningirrthebaseiorward of the-bladetoform aportion of thesaidplaningbase',.a back stop abutted byVthe-upperside of said one end portion of said plate whenftherlatter isin planing position int said openingpinA thebaseythe other endA portion'of-which-plate is adapted toV overlie thebasein advar-icefofjzsaidlYopening and rocl ably to bear *upon the yedge ,of the base at saidopening,H landclamping-means to press the said overlying-end `portionof: said plate -towardfthe base and therebytheother"endeportion of saidplate lip/againstmsaid-back-stop inl planing position in said opening,yYthe widths of saidopeningr in thef'baseand of said plateenabling-thefsaid plate when unclamped to be inserted into the l planeor withdrawn therefrom from the top side of theeplane and to 4rockabout` saidforward edgeI offsaid opening asa fulcruminv being insertedand positioned in or withdrawnfrom the plane.

2."]E.'he\deviceroi` claim 1 in which'theforward overlying-endportionof-4 said removable `plate when in planing position is slightlyspacedv from`A the base-in-'advancef-of the said fulcrum edge,` A

and the clamping means places said plate in a state- `of` stressoverithe said'iulcru-m and underv the said back-stop accurately'andflrmlyfto holdv thesaid one-end portion ofy said plate in planingposition in theeaidopening'in the base.

3. -A hand Aplane comprising an elongated trough-like metal body Vhavinga planing base with an openingl therein andV side members alongthesrbase, a cutting bladerassembly andoperating handle mounted on thebody With-:atheablade pro-` i jecting through-@the sa-idfopening, across brace between the side members spaced in front of the cutting#blade, lsaid opening-extending forwardly ofsaidbrace; a relatively heavyremovable -platew having l transversely` off-setend portions lying inedifferent planes, one end portion of which plate is adapted to fit andll in said opening in the base forwardly of the blade to form a portionof the said planing base, the other end portion `of which plate isadapted to overlie the base in advance of said` opening and rockably tobear upon theedge of the kbase at said opening,l and clamping` means topress the said overlying end portion of said plate toward the base andthe said oneend portiorr up against .said bracevin, planing position',.the widths of saidlopening in the base;`

and of said plate' enabling the said-plate ,to

be inserted into the plane `orxwithdrawn there-1 from-:through thetopsidefof the -planefvand-to rock about, saidforward vedge of saidopening;as

a fulcrumin beingfinserted andrpositioned inor withdrawn fromthe plane.Y

4. The device ofclairn 3 in which the forward overlying end portion ofsaid removable plate when in planingpositiony is slightly tilted up.from .the base in advance of said fulcrum edge,pwhereby the clampingmeans whentight-l ened stressestlie said plate over said fulcrum` edgeandgund'er saidl braceto hold thesaid one end portion of. said plateirmly and laccurately in said opening in thezbase.

5. A `hand plane comprising an *Y elongated@` trough-like metal bodyVwithta planingbaseand; opening therein and side members. along the base,y

a cutting blade assembly and operating handle;

mounted on the bodyV with theblade: projecting; i through 4thesaidopening and a cross bracecbetween the side members suitably spacedin front of. the blade; said opening extending fromthe blade to a pointforwardly of said cross brace,V

a relatively heavy removable plate having laterally oisetend portionslying indifferent planesiy oneend portion of whichplate isradapted. to.'

fit and ill insaidA opening in the base forwardly of the blade to formgaportion ofthe planing base'and .thefrontuedge of.a blade ,throatftheother and forward end portio-n of which plate is adapted to overlie theIbase: in advanceof said opening and to bear upon the vfront edge of saidopening, said forward portion :of'saidplate being slightly spacedVfrom?.thepbaseziorward of; saidff:

edge of the/openingwhen the plate isinY planing position .insaidxopeningg. said plate being; adapted;

to be inserted transverselyinthe plane from the top throughltnespaceebetweenthe cross brace and.. the front `.edge of said opening andthen Ltoi-'y `beV rockable about saidledge-V into planing posi-:ifv tionandto be wthdrawni from Athe plane in they :l

same wayffor cleaningzpurposes butin the revers-e:

order, said plate having vacam portionron its; upper side engagingthe...said. brace during such: rocking movement to guide theplate intoand out;

of` its planing position and: prevent contact of the plate withthevsaidyblade, said plate vwhen in planing position bearingi against:saidy brace as a back stop' and upon saidedge of the opening in. thebas-e as a fulcrum,pand clamping means toL` urge.. the overlying end ofsaid `plate toward. thel lloase to placesaidlplate.under. bending`Astressv.. overfsaidz fulcrum edge aridv under said bracetightly tohold said one end portionof, the plate L in planing. positioninfthe`said opening. .inrthe base;

platessaid knob servinglas a handle for themanipulation of the. plate inits removal from the y plane for cleaning purposes-and its reinsertionin the plane .for planing, said knob also Yservin asranv operating frontk-nob lof 1 the `Vplane linie.

6.The device oflclaim 5 having a knobicarried' i by said overlying endportion of said removable to be engaged by said 'cam to press and clampthe said overlying end portion toward the base.

9. A hand plane comprising an elongated trough-like metal body with aplaning base having an opening and side members along the base, acutting blade assembly and operating handle mounted in the plane withthe blade projecting through the said opening and a cross brace betweenthe said sides suitably spaced in front of the blade, said openingextending between the sides and from the blade to a point forwardly ofsaidcross brace, a relatively heavy removable plate having laterallyoffset end portions lying in different planes, one end portion of whichplate is adapted to t and ll in said opening in the base in front of theblade to form a portion of the plane base and the other end portion ofwhich plate is adapted to overlie the base in advance of said openingand rockably bearing upon the edge of the base at said opening, saidplate being adapted to be inserted transversely into the plane from thetop through the space between the cross brace and the front edge of saidopening in the base and to be withdrawn therefrom, said plate beingrockable over said edge as a fulcrum to position the said one endportion in said opening for planing, said plate when in planing'positionbearing against said brace as a stop on theone side and upon said edgeof the base as a fulcrum on the other side, and spring-pressed balls inthe edges of said overlying end portion of the said plate engagingsockets therefor in the adjacent sides of the plane to hold the platetightly in its planing position.

10. A plane having the features of construction set forth in claim 9 inwhich said balls are adapted to engage the top edges of the side membersof the plane when the said plate is inserted transversely into theplane, thereby tending to limit the extent of such insertion and then toride along said top edges when the plate is initially rocked towardplaning position whereby to tend to hold the said plate in rockingposition over said fulcrum edge, said balls being depressed by said sidemembers in the further rocking of said plate to planing position, thesaid sockets and the bores containing the spring-pressed balls being outof axial alignment to produce a camming action of the balls in thesockets to hold the said plate under tension in planing position.

11. A hand plane having a planing base, a blade assembly in the plane,the base having an opening forming a throat for the blade, a removablesection of the base lling in a portion of said opening' in advance ofthe blade, a rigid holding member rigidly attached to said section andextending forwardly over the base in advance of said section, a handknob carried by and secured to said member, said holding member and basesection being rockable as a unit over the edge portion of the base atthe forward end of said opening to swing the section down out of thebase to free impacted shavings or the like in the plane and to swing thesaid section back into place in the base for planing after suchcleaning,

andguiding means for preventing contact ofthe section with the blade insuch movements.

` 12. A hand plane having a planing base, ablade assembly in the plane,the Abase having an opening forming a throat for the blade, a removablesection of the base filling in a portion of said opening, a holdingmember rigidly attached to said section and extending forwardly over thebase in advance of 'said section, said holding member and base sectionbeing rockable as a unit over an edge of the base at the said opening toswing the section down out of the base to free impacted shavings or thelike in the plane and to swing the said section back into place in thebase for planing after such cleaning, a stop member in the plane oversaid section against which the section abuts when in planing position inthe base, and means to clampingly press the said holding member towardthe base to hold the said base section tightly in planing positionagainst said stop. Y

13. A hand plane having a planing base, a blade assembly in the plane,the base having an opening forming a throat for the blade, a removablesection of the base filling in a portion of said opening, a holdingmember rigidly attached to said section and extending forwardly over thebase in advance of said section, said holding member and base sectionbeing rockable as a unit over an edge of the base at the said opening toswing the section down out of the base to free impacted shavings or thelike in the plane and to swing the said section back into place in thebase for planing after such cleaning, a stoprmember over said section,and a cam portion on the top of said section and holding member adaptedto engage said stop member to prevent contact of said section with theblade in the manipulation of the section and holding member with respectto the plane and longitudinally to position the said section in the basefor planing.

14. A hand plane having a planing base, a blade assembly in the plane,the said base having an opening forming a throat for the blade, aremovable section of the base filling in a portion of said opening, aforwardly extending holding member rigidly secured to said' section by ajogged connection, said member adapted to overlie the base forwardly ofsaid opening, a cross brace above said section, saidV jogged connectionforming a cam on the upper side of said section and member adapted toengage said brace and prevent contact of the section with the blade inthe insertion and withdrawal of the section to and from its planingposition in the base.

LAWRENCE E. PRATT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

